KCWA Community Conversations
& Workshops

A monthly gathering series for fire-affected Kula residents and their neighbors

Our Community Conversations series began on August 25, 2023, with Kulaʻs slopes still burning following Hurricane Dora and the related Maui Wildfires disaster. With a growing need to stay connected as fire-affected residents, the community co-created this consistent space to share information, ask questions, and learn about recovery together in the wake of the wildfire disaster. What started as weekly Zoom gatherings hosted by KCWAʻs early leadership soon became an essential meeting place for our growing alliance — a place where neighbors, scientists, and land managers could listen, collaborate, and build trust as the community began to recover.

Over time, these gatherings transitioned from weekly to bi-weekly, and now take place monthly on the first Thursday of each month, continuing to serve as a vital forum for learning and connection. Each session features a guest speaker or panel offering insights on topics that shape Kula’s future — from watershed restoration and fire recovery to water security, native reforestation, and community preparedness.

Past speakers have included representatives from the County of Maui, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Maui County Fire Department, Maui Emergency Management Agency, Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization, the University of Hawaiʻi, State of Hawaiʻi DLNR/Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Skyline Conservation Initiative, Maui Invasive Species Committee, Hawaiʻi Agricultural Research Center, National Weather Service, Pacific Fire Exchange, and more.

Recordings are made available to all who register, ensuring that the information shared continues to reach and benefit our wider community.

Want to be informed of upcoming conversations?

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UPCOMING KCWA COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS

  • KCWA Community Conversation

    UNDERSTANDING MAUIʻS WATERSHEDS


    02/05/26 6:00-7:00PM

    What exactly is a watershed — and how does it really function on Maui? Join the Kula Community Watershed Alliance for a special Community Conversation with hydrologist Christopher Shuler of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Water Resources Research Center. In this accessible, general-audience talk, Christopher will explore how rain moves through our landscapes, how groundwater and surface water are connected, and why watershed health is essential for water security, ecosystem recovery, and community resilience.

    REGISTER HERE

  • MAUI WILDIFRE RESILIENCE WORKSHOP

    04/25/25 1:00-4:30PM

    The Maui Wildfire Resilience Workshop is a community-centered gathering focused on strengthening preparedness, response, and long-term resilience to wildfire across Maui. Hosted by the Kula Community Watershed Alliance in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa as part of a National Science Foundation (NSF) CIVIC Innovations project, the workshop brings together fire-affected residents, land stewards, researchers, and local partners to share lived experience, explore the ecological drivers of wildfire risk, and discuss practical strategies for land management, native restoration, and early detection. Designed as a space for learning and exchange, the workshop aims to support community-informed approaches to reducing wildfire risk and caring for our landscapes moving forward.

    REGISTER HERE

  • KCWA QUARTERLY FIELD REPORT


    07/02/2026, 6:00 - 7:00PM

    These new quarterly updates provided by the KCWA project management team are designed to connect with KCWAʻs 70+ participating landowners. In these gatherings, our teams share what’s been accomplished on the ground, and give a look ahead at the priorities guiding our next season of work.

    REGISTER FOR QUARTERLY FIELD REPORTS